2005-02-07

Super Bowl Parties at Libraries?

Did any libraries out there throw Super Bowl viewing parties? If so, let me know. If not, think about the following:

Awards night parties -- The Grammys, Screen Actors' Guild awards, and the Oscars are all coming up -- should be not terribly difficult to throw, and should offer a hefty return in goodwill from your public.

You schedule keeping the building open late, clearing it with your director, fire department, security team, staff to keep the building open, and other stakeholders. This will probably take the most time.

You buy adequate snacks & beverages (or if you have patrons who are super-keen on the idea, arrange a potluck) -- say, enough for 25 people to snack & sip on for 4-6 hours, including the red carpet commentary.

You book your largest meeting room, or just clear out space in a department that has movable furniture and put your biggest TV right in the middle, surrounding it with chairs.

You put your food & beverages on tables arranged to the side of the chairs & TV.

You promote the heck out of it -- in person, with bookmarks, with materials displays, posters, with small ads in your local paper -- and see how it goes. It could be a new tradition @ your library, and it would certainly be a program that brings people together, in a spirit of celebration (for those cheering the winners) and schadenfreude (for those spotting truly awful dresses).

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